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United Football League Is Coming to Rhode Island in 2027
On Wednesday, the United Football League announced a new Utah franchise will join the league in 2028. The team will play at the 20,000-seat America First Field in Sandy, marking the league's 10th team.
Expansion efforts target four new markets over two seasons as the league pursues geographic growth. Colorado and Rhode Island debut in 2027, while Utah and Oklahoma follow in 2028.
The league partners with Miller Sports + Entertainment to establish year-round local staff in Salt Lake City. America First Field currently hosts Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals, providing existing infrastructure.
UFL co-owner Mike Repole targets college towns and smaller soccer venues for atmosphere and television broadcast quality. "What a different feel when you know you have a game with 15,000 people in a 15,000 seat stadium," Repole said.
Repole envisions expanding to 16 teams by 2034 as the league pursues sustainable growth. This geographic expansion must balance with attendance challenges; the UFL averaged 10,416 fans per game in 2026, down 14.3% from 2025.